Opinion response exercise

How far should we go to prevent animals from extinction?

This opinion response survey will be due next Thursday (Oct 3) by classtime (a little later than usual since it was posted later than usual).

The "extinction" opinion was technically due by classtime Thursday 9/26, though some that arrived afterward also been posted here.

Please read through the directionsfirst before starting to read the opinions (if you haven't already in past assignments).

Instead of asking everyone to read all the responses, which I think might be overwhelming, I will divide it up as follows:

· If your name begins with the letters A to D, please read responses 1 to 18

· If your name begins with the letters E to K, please read responses 19 to 36

· If your name begins with the letters L to N, please read responses 37 to 53

· If your name begins with the letters O to Z, please read responses 54 to 70

The order of the responses is random. Chances being what they are, the 4 sets will probably differ somewhat. You are welcome, of course, to read responses outside your own set if you have time and interest.

If you do not see your response below, do not planic, but please do let me know.

1 to 18

1. Extinction is a tricky subject to talk about. There are so many moral questions that come into play when discussing the possible extinction of species. If we are the cause of a near extinction of another species we should definitely be doing something to prevent it from happening. It?s our responsibility to share the earth with other creatures and not to interfere with their way of life. However, if we are not the cause of the near extinction, what right do we have to stop it? If we saved every creature from death the earth would quickly become over populated. It may seem cold hearted to not attempt to save species that are near extinction, but our interference with mother nature could, in the long run, cause more damage than good.

2. How far should we go to protect animal extinction? I think that if the human population has anything to do with the extinction they should intervene because it is their fault. If an animal becomes extinct for natural enviornmental reason then no we shouldn't intervene. But what are the possibilites that the human population had nothing to with the extinction? Scientists are any other people that are certtified in this area should promote reproduction of the animal in national parks or a habitat that is non conflicting withthe population. Such as Bears and Mountain Lions there was a time when they were close to extinction and they were repopulated in certain areas of the US. Our ecosystem is ever changing because of neglect and misuse and as a civilization we don't appreciate all that these animals do for us. It is our responsibilty to keep everything on earth in proper proportion.

3. Extinction is a natural occurance when a species is not strong enough to live in mass numbers anymore, usually because of it's changing surrounding environment. Unfortunately enough, it is evident that Humans have had a detrimental effect on causing several species into extinction as we continue to expand our race everyday. We should definitely do all we can to prevent animals from distinction, whether it incolve relocation, or to encourage other Animal protection agencies that fight to illegalize worldwide poaching of near-extinct animals. It is our duty to help endangered species because Humans have has such a detrimental effect on most of their habitats.

4. I feel that we should go as far as we possibly can to protect animals from extinction. Even though it may seem that some animal species mean nothing to our existence, it doesn't mean that they don't mean something else to other living things. Practically everything has some reason for existing on earth. Whether something belongs to a food chain or is needed for other reasons of survival it is important that everything remains existing otherwise drastic changes could take place. Some ways in which we could protect animals from going extinct are to stop any poaching, reserve as much wild life as we possibly can, and to clean up our mess that finds itself among the wildlife both on and off land. And of couse any drastic or unusual change in a species should be looked at and if we can help in any way,do so, unharmingly.

5. The human race has destroyed hundreds of thousands of animal species throughout history. It is now time that humankind takes responsibility for its actions and save the animals that are on the verge of extinction. Governments have to preserve the habitats and ecosystems of all animals not just endangered ones. There is no reason why more and more species should have to go extinct in the name of Globalization and Urban Sprawl. Animal and plant species have a right to share the biosphere alo! ngside human beings. I believe that in the future Human Beings will finally realize how important animals and plants are to our own survival and happiness.

6. Prsoanlly, I do not care of the"walla wang wang" species goes extinct. There's probably a 1000 more just like them. As if there are not enough different kinds of things living on this planet. If we don't kill all the animals, then the animals will surely kill each other. Animals don't have brains. They don't have a culture or are sophiticated. Even if a species did die, there would be another one after that.

7. I think that we should do everything in our power to protect animals from extinction. I think that it would only be right because in many instances it is humans that have caused a species' population to decline. Humans have been cutting down forests that animals live in; we have polluted the air and water that animals live in, and we have killed many animals almost to extinction, for sport. Just because we are the dominant species of the world does not mean that we should not care that other animals are dying because of our excesses. People in general should care more about animals that are becoming extinct. We should try to stop polluting the earth and exploiting it for natural resources that these animals use too. Habitats should be made for animals that have lost their homes. We should try to be more conscientious that we our not he only things living in the world.

8. I believe that in order to keep our environment healthy, we need to keep the animals from extinction. I believe this, since humens are the key contributor to their deaths and we need to revearse that process. We need to be able to keep these animals around by any means possible, wether it be done by science or done by nature. But I believe that we need to do something about keepind these animals from extinction.

9. Extinction is a natural process. It is not our duty as humans to prevent all animals from dying. Not only is it not our job, but all the animals die for certain reasons, and other forms of them take their place. The only circumstances under which I believe humans should stand in is if we 1) know that it is our fault of why they are dying (smoke, pollution, destroy habitat, etc.) or 2) the survival of the species is very important to us, or other aspects of nature.

10. It is said that our world is becoming over populized and that if there was no such thing as the cycle of life and death, that we would end up take overing our small planet. In ways it is the same with animals. It is a natural cycle that all animals live and die and even become extict. In some cases however, humans have caused certain animals to die out faster which is somehting i do not beleive in but in other cases such as dinosaurs, a natural cause made them become extict which tells me that it was meant to be. It is sad knowing that we will never see these animals that died out ( unless we decide to use cloning) but they will not be forgoten by scientists and it also leaves us with the mystery of what they were really like.

11. I think if one was to take a poll, most people would agree that it is better to learn and fully comprehend things from actually seeing them, hence the quote "seeing is believing". I believe that people should take drastic measures to protect animals from extinction. There should be sanctions set up for these endangered species. Harsh laws should be put into place regarding any harm that is placed on these delicate species. People should start campaigns that raise awareness to the particular endangered species to get the word out and raise money to put them in a safe habitat where they have a chance to grow and reproduce. I would much rather have my children or grandchildren learn from seeing these animals first hand, and knowing that they exist then having them read about the now extinct species in a text book.

12. I believe all measures within reason should be taken to prevent extinction. Extinction is primarily a result of human interference, be it overkill or habitat destruction, and as it is we who are doing the destructing, it should be we who fight to repair the damage. We as humans take nothing but ourselves into account. The rainforest contains valuable medications for currently incurable diseases, therefore we must tear it down in search of those remedies, nevermind the ecological ramifications. If we had a quarter the determination to preserve other species as we do to ensure our own well being, extinction would not a problem of any prevalence.

13. How far we should go to protect animals that are going extinct I think depends on the situation. If the animals are dying off for natural reasons then that means that they probably wouldn't survive even if we did try to save them. Maybe the habitat that they are used to is changing due to enviromental changes and they can't adapt to that. If this is the case then there really isn't too much we can do. Although I do believe that we should try to save animals from extinction if it is a result of human influence. If an animal is dying off because we are killing too many of them or because we are destroying there habitats then we should definately do something to help save the species. If it wasn't for the human influence then they could be prospering and if that is so then we should do whatever we can to stop there extinction.

14. How far should we go to protect animals from extinction? I believe we should do as much as possible. Some argue that it is God's choice to make a species go extinct. Some say it is evolution and Darwinism at its best. But I don't think today's reason's for these animals to go extinct classify as"survival of the fittest." It is mostly mankind's fault that a lot of species are becoming endangered and extinct. Yet sometimes we can help, whether through captive breeding or animal sanctuaries. However, cloning these animals is one step too far. Let mother nature take it's course. If she really has it out for a certain species to go extinct, it's going to happen.

15. I really don't think that there is one generalized answer for this question in today's world. If an animal is endangered, is it because we destroyed their habitat to build a power plant, is it because by building a power plant the entire ecosystem was thrown off, making animals move to areas they would not normally be, disrupting that habitat, or is it just because they are dying off by natural means. All of these variables need to be taken into consideration before anyone attempts to save a species on the brink of extinction. Its sorta like in "The Catcher in the Rye", you can't stand on the edge of the cliff and save every species that is about to fall off.

16. It's a tricky subject, the exticition of animals on earth. Sometimes we feel that god made it so they would die, or that why do we have the right to protect one animal when another is already dead? I personally feel that we should try to protect animals from extiction. I don't think we should resurect dead animals, or even clone living ones to help that, but we can create preserves, stop expanding into their habitats, or simply let the creature live in peace. We wiped out so many animals already, if we don't do something the only ones left will be Squirels and Pidgeons.

17. I feel that we should do whatever we can to ensure that new animals do not become extinct. With the technology that we have today, the only thing that should prevent us from protecting these gems of nature is if it will effect other animals, endangered or not in a negative way. It's our fault that these animals may become extinct, it is now our obligation to make sure that they don't.

18. Human beings play an influential role in their habitats. We consume the Earth's resources at a phenomenal rate and produce waste in exponential proportions. Among other ramifications, this influence has resulted, both directly and indirectly, in the endangerment and extinction of a variety of species. If we can so carelessly exert our will upon other species, should we also not make an effort to mitigate our detrimental aspects. While the extinction of animal species is a relatively common occurence in Earth's history--as a species either evolves or is replaced by another--our presence has increased the rate at which species expire. Thus, any effort taken to limit our influence would allow environments and species to adapt to one another, which would in effect help to presever biodiversity.

19 to 36

19. I believe that our involvement in keeping animals from extinction should directly correlate to the impact we have had on the animal. If the animal is going extinct because humans have destroyed its natural environment or humans have hunted it to near extinction, we should do as much as we can to help them. In contrast if the animal was relatively unaffected by man (hard to find I know) then we should study the remaining few but allow evolution and natural selection to take its course.

20. According to the World Conservation Union’s 2000 Red List of Threatened Species, there are currently more than 11,000 animals and plants at risk of extinction. While extinction rates have been estimated at 1,000 to 10,000 times higher than natural extinction rates. This increased rate is the direct result of human activity, including the destruction of rainforest, pollution emissions, and extensive fishing. As population and industrial activity increase, so do the extinction rates. Species extinction induced by human activity must be reduced in a means of preserving the ecosystems and its inhabitants. It is estimated that currently only 1.75 million out of 14 million species have been identified. These unidentified species possibly contain enzymes that could create breakthroughs for the medical community. Therefore, the benefit derived from preserving endangered species will not only be visually enjoyed by our children, but could in fact hold the cures for diseases they may develop. (Frequently cited as an especially well expressed opinion.)

21. There is no doubt that we should, under normal circumstances, go as far as possible to save animals from extinction. The reasoning is that the extinction of one species could be detrimental to the fragile balance of the food chain and ecological hierarchy of life. If we regularly allowed species to become extinct, this could lead to great problems for ourselves. We do not have unlimited resources, however, to prevent extinction of species, which requires expertise, labor, and of course, money. Through education and awareness programs the public could become more sympathetic to the cause and thus more resources might be allocated for this purpose. Extinction is a dangerous thing and more help there is to prevent it, the better.

22. It is inevitable that species will eventually become extinct. However, being at the top of the food chain, I think it is our responsibility to delay this process. Human development is largely to blame for the depletion of many animal species. We cut down rain forests for natural resources, and pollute the water with our factories. We must begin immediately by instituting and enforcing strict regulations dealing with the destruction of our environment. Programs to help breed endangered species and reintroduce them into the wild should be expanded, and poachers and trappers should be violated to the fullest extent. The future of our environment is in our hands, and we must act now to take on that responsibility.

23. Humans have brought about so much change to the world. No other animal has had the intelligence to be able to control nature. If an animal in danger of becomming extinct I think we should do whatever is possible to help ensure the animals survival. Iam still a little skepticle about clonning but it would help any animal from becoming extinct. Without a doubt we should try captive breeding. Also we should make very strict laws about killing any animal in danger. We could also control their environment if it has a harm to them.

24. To be honest, I have always been against the protection of animals that are becoming extinct. There is no reason for us to keep these animals on earth if they are dying. They are obviously becoming exctinct for many reasons that we cannot control. Whether the cause be a lack of food, water or varying weather conditions, it is simply not up to a group of technology crazed humans with a superiority complex to attempt to keep these animals here. It is one thing when it is your own race and you are simply trying to survive something, it is another when it is a different species that we are convinced we know a great deal about but are uncertain why they are becoming extinct. It is almost ridiculous to keep these animals here because they are no longer able to hold their own and should we choose to help these animals now so that they do not become extinct, would they not continue to rely on us in the future for their existence? (Frequently cited as a new insight.)

25. Of course we should protect all animals from going extinct. The idea of letting a certain type of animal die off is not appeasing. we as an organized society and controlled by government, should be more consious in the protection of the endangered species. However once we begin to alter environments and make drastic changes we can jeapordize the well being of other creates. A great deal has to be done to protect against extinction but this must be careful and well organized so that it does not inflict any other problems or concerns.

26. I don?t think it is fair to take all the remains from the natives. Some should be left but the ones that offer the most significant information should taken. I think it will be more interesting and useful if they are studied and not just returned to the native people who will most likely not do anything with them except keep them in a box. However, a compromise can he reached. We can study the remains for as long as we want and once we achieve enough information, we can return them to the natives, if they wish to have them.

27. One of the main reasons that animals go extinct is the destruction of their habitats. Although we are a growing population which needs room to live, there are other species which we can keep from extinction by simply being more careful of the habitats in which these animals live. For example, we ruin habitats through pollution and deforestation. By cutting back on these factors we will not only be aiding endangered species, but also ourselves, as these factors also threaten our own lives. Being conscientious of an animal's habitat is one very simple way to protect animals from extinction. And I believe that it is important for us to do as much as we can, without endangering our own lives, to prevent extinction. Afterall, if our species was in danger of becoming extinct than nothing we could do would ever be considered too much. No one would ever say that its simply meant to be; that species go extinct all the time. Why, then do we disregard other species when we could have the power to save them? In addition, it is possible that by aiding other species we may be helping ourselves. There are many plant, as well as animal species which may have a medicinal value, that we are now unaware of. So it is my belief that we have the capability as well as the reponsiblity to do all that we can to ensure that we are not responsible for the extinction of other sepcies. (Frequently cited as an especially well expressed opinion.)

28. A logical answer to the question of the lengths humans should go to protect endangered species is, ?as far as necessary.? Many species have become endangered or are extinct because of the often-wasteful plundering by humankind?poor use of natural resources, pollution, destruction of natural habitats for commercial development, and other actions have all contributed to the decline in number of many species. As major contributors to the problem as well as major possible contributors to the solution, we need to start taking action to protect the habitats of endangered species by opposing development in those habitats and working to decrease the amount of waste we release into the environment. Scientists and those trained to do so should aid in breeding endangered species and help reintroduce them to the wild. While it may not be possible to protect all species from extinction?which is a natural course of evolution and has been for millions of years?we can certainly slow the rate and number of species that are dwindling and disappearing before our eyes.

29. Humans as a collective have had quite a detrimental effect on the planet including the extinction of many species of animals that we will never see again. It is because of this that I think we should do whatever is necessary to ensure that this pattern of extinction does not continue. Sure, I am aware of the natural selection idea and I believe in that, but there is no denying that humans have destroyed millions of acres of natural habitats and have effectively forced species into extinction through their practices. New global standards and increased efforts to preserve and restore natural habitats is a must if we wish to continue to live in balance with the planet.

30. Life on earth doesn't begin and end with humans. Just because we deem ourselves more advanced and civilized than other animals doesn't mean that we should be able to decide to wipe out a whole population. I think that endangered animal groups should be taken very seriously. While we might not think that a particular animal family is important, they are important. Every living thing is important and that is why we should take them into consideration.

31. I am a strong believer that everything happens for a reason, therefore when it comes to tampering with the ecosystem, I believe that we should not intervene very much. I think that if we can make a small effort to save a type of animal, then by all means we should. If it is a large project that is almost hopeless though I believe that it isn?t worth the time, effort, or money that may be used more productively on another project. Although they may sound heartless, at some point in time every species may go extinct it is just a matter of time, and if none do they the world would have a huge problem with overpopulation, more than it already does.

32. I think that we should do everything possible to save animals from being extinct. The earth has a very delicate ecosystem and throwing it off could be very dangerous to all species. Each organism is part of a food chain and special ecosystem. If one link of the chain is broken, the repercussions will be very serious. In a few instances, the reason why animals are becoming endangered is mostly because of human activity. We should become more aware of the endangered animals, and start educating others about the situation.

33. Our society today should do everything in its power to protect animals from extinction. Humans today have basically taken over the entire world, and invaded the space of animals that have been alive far longer than humans have. We are even partially responsible for the disappearance of already extinct animals. So, doesn?t it make sense that we at least try to ensure the survival of endangered animals, or keep other animals from becoming extinct? Instead of taking over the planet that we live on, we need to learn to be considerate and share our environment. This way, the animals of today will be around for years to come.

34. I believe that we should take every measure possible to protect animals from extinction. The vast majority of animals are going extinct because of human actions. Therefore we need to create laws to better protect them. There have been acts passed to help bring back endangered species, but we need to help keep the animal populations at a safe level before they begin to decline. As we are the animals primarily responsible for leading to the extinction of the other animals, it has become our responsibility to monitor and help the declining populations of other animals to our fullest ability to ensure they do not too become extinct.

35. Humans are to blame for the endangerment of many species; therefore humans are responsible for stopping the rate of extinction. The best way to approach the problem is to determine the amount of human interference. The extinction of some animals is natural, without human impact. If humans did not diminish the number of a species, then we don?t know whether the species is meant to remain on Earth. However, if we are the hunters and killers, we must take responsibility for our actions. The animals should not be moved from the natural habitat, but guarded with greater awareness to decrease the amount of illegal hunters. This way, the animals have a chance to live without human killers.

36. Should humans prevent the extinction of animals? It all depends on the situation. If human activity is the cause of extinction, then yes we should help save the animal. Deforestation and pollution can cause an animal to die off. When on the verge of extinction, the animal should be protected from hunters or harmful predators. With help breed more offspring. After increased numbers in captivity they should be released back into the natural habitat. On the other hand animal extinction is a fact of nature. Humans should not screw up the balance of nature just to save an animal from going extinct. Most often an animal becomes extinct because of the inability to adapt. Survival of the fit and only the strong survive.

37 to 53

37. I think that we should go to almost any length to protect animals from extinsion. We are the direct cause of many species deaths. As a whole, humans are very careless. We use the land, spit it out, and don't care about anything in our path. Unfortunatly, animals can't help our destruction, nor can they hide from it. The extinctions that have occurred from recorded times and on is not normal. We should go to any extent to not hurt the ecosystem or animals involved with it. We have no idea what the long term effects are of messing up a nautral chain of events.

38. Most animals that are in danger of going extinct are so because of us, and we should try to reverse it as much as we can. Unfortunately, there is not too much we can do. Many animals are going extinct because their habitats are disappearing, and there really is nothing we can do to restore them. The animals we can do the most to help are the ones that are going extinct from hunting, such as whales and elephants. Poaching laws should be much stricter, and whale hunting, which is still legal in some parts of the world, should be stopped. However, though it sounds awful, there is not much else we can do. We can't stop using boats in the ocean just because they kill manatees, for example. I think that we should try to save the animals that we can, but we need to be realistic about it.

39. This is such a hard question to answer because so many times humans have tried to play "god."With this in mind I feel that we should just let nature take its regular course. Survival of the fittest should be the phrase to answer this question; meaning if the creature can't adapt and live with its surroundings thenits time for it to go. Using this process would be a lot easier then trying to "save the world." (Frequently cited as a new insight.)

40. Humans should do everything in their power to prevent animals from extinction. Humans have driven animals off their native lands and not really thought about the repercussions of these actions. An animal naturally dying off is one thing, but the only reason animals would go extinct in today?s world is directly related to human activity. The blood is on the human hands, and that is why we should do all that we can too protect animals from extinction. Humans have negatively effected animals for too long. Protecting these animals should be a no- brainer. If we didn?t, than eventually the only thing that would be left on Earth would be humans, and who would want that?

41. I believe that we should let nature run its course, and if an animal species dies off, so be it. We should not be preventing a species from doing what it was destined to do. By preventing animals from dying, we are acting as god, which is the exact reason why many people dont want to clone things. i believe that whether you take a life, or create it, you are still playing god.

42. I believe that humans should not protect endangered species. These animals are dying off for a reason. Species have become extinct since the beginning of time and it is a natural process. Humans must not interfere with the natural processes of the earth. The earth has gone through many periods of extinction and it is something that happens and will continue to happen. If humans try to save these species they are just delaying the inevitable. The inevitable being that these species are meant to be become extinct so humans should not interfere with the earth processes even more than they already have.

43. I think we should try to keep animals form going extinct. Who wants to lose an entire species? But at this point , it's almost as if we shouldn't bother. With cloning research reaching further every day, if an animal goes extinct, we could just clone a bunch of them back to life. The general public wouldn't even know the difference!

44. All living things should have the oppurtunity to live and it is us humans that are the main, if not the only, reason that many species don't survive. We kill them off and then there are those who are trying to save the species at the same time. IT is a hard thing to determine because you can only go so far to save a species when in reality, not to sound selfish, it is us humans that need to worry about the extinction of our own species. Working to try and save animals, plants, etc. is a great thing in my mind, I believe we should do whatever it takes to help things stay alive.

45. We should go extremely far to protect animals from extinction by doing whatever we can to keep all species alive and well. I know that is natural for animals to die off because "survival of the fittest" and because some do not adapt to new changes in our environment, but if there is a way to stop this from happening we definitely should. If I was about to die I would want anyone to do whatever they could to save my life. If we want to learn about the species we could learn more by studying it while the animals are still living.

46. I believe we should do everything in our power to not disturb the natural habitat of every animal left on earth. The damage has been done, and there is nothing we can do for the animals who have gone extinct, but we can still save those who are alive. We must stop and expanding, we need to decrease our population and make room for the other animals on this planet. Every form of life on this planet has the right to be here, human's need to stop acting superior to everything else, god did not create us in his image, we created god in our image. Because if trends continue the way they are going we will be facing the extinction of many more animals, even possibly our own.

47. I think that we should definately try to protect the endangered animals as best as we can. I know that it is not right to keep them in captivity, but in order to protect them it is nessecary until their numbers in population go back up.

48. Since the beginning of time, different species have come and gone many times over. I believe that our actions should be limited in dealing with extinction. The lifetime of certain species may be up and we cannot prevent that. Just because we have the technology and advances over the past doesn't mean that we should use it to keep everything we know that exists alive. It is simple evolution and we should not interfere with that. When our time is up, no one or anything can stop that, why try to stop another species from passing on. there are so many new species that have yet to be discovered, some destined to never be found, but as for the species we do know, we should not try to keep the world the way it is. We should let evolution take over and accept that.

49. I don't believe we have to go to far to protect animals from being extinct. We should put regulations on land development to protect the wilderness thats left. Then to compensate for the growing population, we should develop the land that has already been developed even more because that land can't return to the way it was. Then we have to stop trying to help these animals repopulate with genetics and cloning. Humans have a natural instinct to nuture everything, which isn,t always good. If we were to allow nature to take over, each species would adapt to survive.

50. There has been wide debate on whether or not man can be considered a part of nature. Once, perhaps, man had an alliance with nature where he worked along side it, helping to flourish. Now, looking out of our windows we can see the litter and destruction we have caused over the Earth. We are no longer part of nature. We have transended: we hold ourselves too highly and too powerfully. So if we cause a species to die out we should be help responisble. But be struggling to keep a species from going extinct we would cause their habitat to become unnatural, as we protected them. The question is, do these animals really want to be stuck with us, on this Earth we are slowly hurting?

51. When it comes to extinction, some animals deserve our help, and some don't. The ones that do are the ones whose impending extinction we brought on. Some animals merely cannot adjust to natural changes in their climate or food supply; their time has come. When we do try to save a species, we should not go beyond putting the animals in a zoo and encouraging them to procreate. By encouraging, I mean that we should simulate the animals' natural environment as closely as possible and provide them with mates. I don't believe that cloning is an acceptable means of preserving a species, because it tampers with its gene pool. Scientists need to focus on keeping animals off the endangered species list in the first place. We therefore need to correct our own destructive behaviors in order to avoid desperate measures in the future.

52. I think that if an animal were in danger of becoming extinct due to human causes, then humans should do everything within their power to stop that from happening. What's horrible is that some people are deciding to collect DNA samples from endangered animals today and preserving them for future clonging possibilities. This makes them feel that it is OK for the animal to die off because we'll have the technology someday to bring all these animals back. This saves the tremendous time and effort it takes to maintain an endangered species' habitat. I don't agree with that view. I feel that there is a difference between trying to save a species while there are still soem left and trying to clone extinct animals in the future. In other words, we're just procrastinating in solving the endangered species problem. It's better to do something today than wait for tomorrow. I think that the prevention of animals becoming extinct is a "see-saw" of a topic. I feel this way becuase if an animal is becoming extinct, it is nature's way of moving on. If a species is dying of from natural causes, it should be allowed to do so and no one should play God. However, if it is in obvious case that it is man who is killing a speicies off under unreasonable means (hunting for fun, destroying habibtat etc.) then something should be done to prevent it. Overall, i am in favor of nature choosing who sticks around.

53a. I think saving animals that are vital to the human race or human development is important. (i.e. animals that provide us with food). I also believe in natural selection and that nature eventually elimantes certain animals due to its constant change and evolution. Animals that are becoming extinct due to human carelessness is something that should be stopped regardles of the animals closeness to extinction.

53b. Although extinction could be considered natural, essentially the definition of Darwinism, we should do everything within our power to save a species on the brink of disappearing. In an age where the question of whether or not to clone already extinct species is a hot topic, it seems ludicrious to even consider allowing a species to die out during present day. The moral ramifications of basically watching a creature die out, the last of its kind, are too powerful to comprehend. Humans are responsible for most species' extinctions. Although we are considered part of the natural world and the perfect application of "survival of the fittest", we also think of ourselves as above the animal kingdom, but with our pretension should come a certain responsibility to preserve fellow species on the brink of extinction.

54. Extinction happens for more than one reason. One of these reasons is nature itself, something may be bound to happen to cause an entire species to become extinct. Another one of these reasons is the human race. In short, humans do dumb things to harm the earth and the species that live on it. In the first case I don't believe that we can, therefore should do much to protect animals from extinction. Nature has a mind of its own and I don't really think that anything we do can really help to prevent that. On the other hand, I believe that there is a lot that we can do to prevent the extinction of animals when the cause is humans, and I think that we should do everything possible in these situations. There is absolutely no reason why humans should be able to show up and start ruining nature and all the different species, it's just not right. If we start the extinction of an animal, than we should definitely prevent it, but why start it in the first place? (Frequently cited as a new insight.)

54 to 70

55. I think that animals deserve the chance to live there life without humans killing them off, humans have taken over everything, and in good and bad ways, everything we do affects the other creatures that live on earth, that is why animals should be helped to stay reproducing, if many animals go extincted, it will hurt our way of life. As many animals that are in danger of going extincted, isn't the normal, I know that some animals come and go, but since the rainforests are being cut down that is killing many different kinds of animals.

56. Protecting animals from extinction should be a huge priority in every normal citezen's life. Even one species dying out could amount to danger concerning the entire ecosystem. For instance, if a certain species of rodent died out, that was a major source of food for a bird of some sort, the bird would have more trouble finding food. Some birds would die. Others would adapt to their environment and evolve to eat differently. In effect, when a species faces extinction it could actually add to the evolutionary history of Earth.

57. We need to protect species that we, as a species, are wiping out because of our actions. Practically, conservation, breeding, and awareness programs are a must. We have to reach out to the whole range of people and help them to see the ways they impact the environment. We also need to have a scientific eye on the local species, while reminding local officials when it?s time to change hunting laws or codes concerning pesticides and other chemicals. I think that cloning might be a good option in this case. If healthy clones can be bred and sparingly be introduced into a breeding center or local colony, then go for it. (Frequently cited as a new insight.)

58. I feel that we, as human beings, should do everything in our power to protect animals from extinction. In many cases, man is responsible for animals going extinct. A lot of the time, we people can help out just by being more responsible about pollution, hunting, fishing, etc. If we all were just a bit more conscious about endangered animals, it

would have a great impact. The one example I keep thinking about is the rare North Atlantic Right Whale, which humans hunted almost to extinction by the 1930s. In 1937, the whales became protected by law, and at the time there were about 100 of them left. Since 1937, the population has only gotten back up to about 350. Humans are the only ones to blame for instances like this. We didn?t kill them all, but we severely damaged their gene pool, probably permanently. It?s time to use our heads.

59. i think that we should do all that we can to stop endangered species from going extinct. Losing any kind of species in the world is tragic and just think about the people a hundred years from now. They may not even know what a killer whale is, let alone what it looks like. It'll be like dinosaurs are to us. I think that we do a lot of harmful things to the environment that hurt animals, especially those that are already in danger of losing their entire species. There are many things that the human race can do to prevent any more extinction from happening. The main issue is using animals for supplies, be it food, oil, or their skins. I don't think that using an already endangered animal for its skin is apprapriate at all. i guess a lot of people will say that if it's meant to happen, it'll happen, and that it's probably best for it to happen that way, but I disagree. I think that everything deserves a chance, without the interuption of humans.

60. Extinction is one of the leading causes of death among different animal species. As evolution takes its course, both humans and animals have had to develop to try and keep up with the changing times. Humans have played the dominating role and animals have succumbed to their force. Technology has aided in the destruction of land and damaged the natural habitats on the animals. This along with many other factors has led to the endangering and extinction of many species. I believe that humans do have an obligation to protect and respect the animal world around them. It is mostly our fault that they are dying off anyways. Government officials have realized this and started organizations like the EPA and other programs to save what animal life there is left. If humans do not step in now, the future could be filled with animated and robotic animals.

61. The prevention of exztinction of species of organisms is a sketchy topic at best. From one viewpoint , i think it is important not to interfere with the natural evoltion of life on earth. But at the same time it is our duty to make sure that we do not prematurely extict any type of organism. Certainly, if an organism posseses a particular benefit to humankind, it should be kept alive at least in laboratories where it can be manipulated for our benefit.

62. I think we should do everything we can as a society to try and protect animals from extinction. The reason I feel this way is because if animals continue to struggle to survive then what will happen to us in the future. We may someday become extinct too if we are not careful with how we treat animals and their homes. We need to stop trying to cover the land with supermarkets and big stores when we are destroying these animals habitats simply to try and make money. In the long run this is going to come back and hurt our population, but for now we are content to sit back and refuse to take the blame for animal extinctions. It is important to note that everything in life depends on each other in some form no matter how trivial, so when another animal or even species goes extinct in a way we are killing ourselves too.

63. Certainly nobody wants to see an entire species whipped out by extinction. In order to stop this from happing, prevention is the best way to go. Humans must regulate the amount animals are hunted and watch for depletion of their natural habitat. Aside from that I don?t feel that we should go much further. Artificial insemination and created habitats offer a temporary solution, but do not give the species the life that they were intended to live. The best way to ensure a species survival is to care for them and regulate their lives?if this does not work then we should go no further as it is our fault that they died out in the first place.ps- I did send this earlier...but it did not go through!

64. There is a very good argument that can be made to go to an extra extent to prevent animals from extinction. Anything less than an effort to prevent an animal from becoming extinct in my eyes would be quiting or selling out. All animals make the environment that we live in beautiful and unique. If the animal proves to in fact be a menace then even they should be preserved and the fact that they are proving to be a determent to society can be dealt with later in a manner that is suitable.

65. It is my firm belief that more is better when it comes to efforts to prevent the extinction of animals. Already we have been responsible for the drastic decrease of many species of whales, elesphants, large cats and I'm sure countless other types of creatures. In several instances, the only reason we still have certain animals on this planet, is because we have taken steps to insure that they do not become extinct. Especially since it is often our own influence that does the damage to these animal populations, we should feel obligated to take any and all steps needed to protect the remaining animals from furthur endagerment. It is impossible to put the weight of extiction on human shoulders. It takes more than one factor to make a species extinct. Unless we find some way of controlling food supply, disease, climate change, and other factors (suchas sea level change, explosions, pollution, volcanoes, predator imbalance, egg stealing, change in light balance, etc.). This list could go on forever, but I think you understand the point I'm trying to make. Yes we, as humans, can try to not hunt cetrain endangered species or car pool to lessen pollution, but in the long run, it really is up to the way order works -- survival of the fittest! (Frequently cited as an especially well expressed opinion.)

66. I think that we should try all measures to prevent extinction. There is no reason that we should not try and save an animal. I know someone might say that all animals become extinct for a reason but it isn?t their fault. Whether it is due to climate or food supply, they are being weeded out. And if you look at all the animals that have been extinct, recently, everyone wonders what they look like, how they act, etc. We weren?t given sufficient amount of time to study them. That is why there are so many groups protecting the animals on the endangered species list. That is a noble duty and no one should deny them the right to fight for the preservation of these animals? lifetime.

67. I think that steps should be taken to prevent extinction to a point depending on the species in question, and it's importance to the habitat it belongs to. If we are responsible for the endangerment of a species- especially if it is a key species upon which an ecosystem rests.This is not always economically fesable however- species should be rated in importance and given priorities, a certain number of species should be concentrated upon.

68. I think we should go all the way to protect animals from extinction. Every single living creature, regardless of size or anything else, contributes to our world in some way. Every single thing on this earth is part of the circle of life, we all need each other for survival, and we are all linked together, one way or another, to the same food chain. So by even one creature becoming extinct, it affects us all. Somewhere out there, there is a cure to AIDS and Cancer, and other diseases that scientists have yet to find. It could be found in the smallest, most overlooked creature or in one that is most common, so we need to try out hardest, and do whatever it takes, to prevent any animal from extinction. (Frequently cited as a new insight.)

69. I don't think we should make a huge effort to stop extinction. Extinction is natures way of taking back power from greedy animals that have become to cumbersome to survive anymore. I don't think we should blantantly go and kill off animals, but it's not a burden of mankind, it is a burden of all animals.

70. I do not think we should go far at all in protecting animals from extinction. It fits into that whole"playing God" thing. If God wanted those animals to survive then they wouldn't be going extinct in the first place. Everything happens for a reason. The only reason that i could understand to do such a thing is if it is an animal that is very important to us, such as a cow for it's milk or a chicken for it's egg. Than i could understand saving them for extinction. Otherwise, that idea is for the birds.